Bildquelle: © Rosel Eckstein / pixelio.de
Barbed wire, grease, electric fences, water hoses, spot lights or safety personnel (often with of five or six figure sums of investment) are the current ways of fighting pirates. Not only the cost or the efficiency of these measures leaves a lot to be desired, but also the success rate is a long way from what is required. The trade routes are still today insecure and the number of pirate attacks is continuously increasing. Help could now be on the horizon with a new world-wide unique hydraulically operated mechanical Anti Ship Entry System known as (ASES).
The idea appears to be unconventional and came to the inventor Heinz Weiss when driving on the German Autobahn (Graduate Engineer for Mechanical Engineering and entrepreneur with thirty years of experience).
After being preoccupied with the problem of sea pirates since the beginning of 2011, when passing by motorway maintenance work he noticed work being carried out using a motor trimmer to cut grass around signs and the central crash barrier.
The centrifugal force of the rotating cord brought him the idea that this principle could also be used using chains mounted on a high speed rotor, which would be able to deflect oncoming fire power. He started his design here and came up with a system which could result in ships being protected against being taken by sea pirates.
The new system operates fully automatically, does away to a great extent with the need for expensive safety personnel and out classes any attempt to protect ships using water hoses etc.
For vessels with anti ship entry system equipment following safety measures will no longer be necessary
Large detours – Detour routes of endangered – passages in convoys.
Driving at high speeds, ships.
Barbed wire – lubricating grease – electric fence – water hose – Panic Room, etc.
Additional insurance – less staff caring for these maritime routes.
Expensive external – private security personnel ( mostly to high amounts ).
Logistics costs, e.g. due to increased security – delays – detours – special bonuses to employees.
System Description
The Anti Ship Entry System (ASES) is made up of 5 components and weighs around 800-1200 kg:
1. Adaptor plate/quick change system fixed to the ship
2. Swivel boom/quick change system (Rotor head fixing)
3. Hydraulic motor with chain wheel with chain head and chain quick change system.
4. Hydraulic drive control block and valves
5. Electronic control system with monitoring
As shown in the pictures, a hydraulic motor with chain wheel, rotor head and rotational damper are mounted to the swivel boom.
The swivel boom is made of N-A-XTRA / XABO steel which helps to reduce the weight of the steel construction. The construction is zinc plated and painted with a marine paint with Nano protection against sea water and salty air. The rotor head and chain wheel with chains are made from stainless steel or plastic chains capable of withstanding fire power. Plastic chains are particularly suitable for tankers to protect against sparks flying onto the deck of the ship.
All parts used in the system are sea water resistant and the hydraulic motor is specified so that it is capable of being used under water.
The hydraulic power supply for the ASES can possibly be provided using the ships own hydraulic system – if the ship allows this.
The modular system also allows that the rotor head can be fitted to the swivel boom of existing ship deck cranes. In this case the necessary security can be provided using this equipment alone, or together with additional Anti Ship Entry Systems installed on board the ship. The rotor head with chains can be installed on the end of the crane boom and remains in the rolled up transport position without hindering the normal operation of the crane.
Function and Operation
During normal operation of the ship, the swivel booms with installed ASES remain in the transport position so that normal operation and work on deck can be carried out without being hindered (Fig.1).
During fog or at night the ASES can be kept in the half load position using sensors. Therefore alarm readiness is ensured against surprise attacks.
In the case of an impending pirate attack, the ASES system is activated using a push button on the control panel on the bridge or from the deck of the ship. Following activating start, the reaction time at the bow or the stern of the ship is around 3 minutes and on the port and starboard sides around six to eight minutes.
Following activation, all ASES are swung out into the defense position. As required depending on the size of the ship, the systems will take up the position of between 5 – 30 m from the side of the ship. If necessary the cranes can be manually positioned down to a minimum of 2 m from the side of the ship (see Fig.2)
The rotor head assembled at the end of the boom now brings the chain wheel up to high speed to the defense position, ensuring that the ASEA is in readiness to defend.
Using the swivel boom controller (SPS), each crane arm is brought into a programed stable position at which the rotating rotor is held at high speed. Each ASES can however be controlled manually (upwards – downwards, swivel to the left – right)
Due to the positioning of ASES, the ship is fully protected from all directions. The possibility of the hi-tech pirates landing from a helicopter is impossible because the ASES can also be held in the horizontal defense position.
In the case of rough seas all ASES are kept in the horizontal position at high speed above the water, the booms move in the upwards and downwards direction to compensate for ship movement.
The boom height can be adjusted so that the rotating chain wheels contact the surface of the sea water producing a wall of water along the length of the ship (depth into the water variable). The resulting spray has the effect of hindering the attackers visibility in locating targets on the ship (Fig. 3).
A direct hit is also not a problem. By means of the contra-rotating high speed chain wheels and the number of chains used, an almost impermeable chain wall is produced. In an emergency situation, when under attack a large proportion of oncoming bullets will be deflected. The danger of cross attacks however still remains.
By means of the fictitious steel disc of chains which is between 5 and 30 m from the side of the ship, the success of a potential attack using weapons such as anti tank rocket launchers becomes questionable.
An anti-tank rocket travels at a speed of 180 – 240 m/sec and the rotating speed of the ASES is around 280 m/sec so that deflection or disturbance of the ballistic trajectory of oncoming bullets is almost certain, the destruction of the bullet by the contra-rotating rotors is possible.
In addition to the practical side, the psychological effect of the system should also be considered. Pirates who see a ship hidden behind wall of contra-rotating chains producing a high shield of spray water will think twice about making an attack.
New Build and Retrofitting ASES
The ASES is suitable for all high sea ships and can be fitted during new build or retrofitted to existing ships, the system can also be transferred from one ship to another. In this case adaptor plates have to be fitted to the ship.
The big advantage of the quick change system is that ships can be fitted out with ASES directly before setting out on dangerous routes. On entering once again safe waters, the system is simple to remove, to transfer to other ships or to be stored in the harbor.
Therefore shipping companies need fewer ships and save costs – a factor which has an effect on transport costs and ultimately the price of goods.
Due to the modularity of the system, even a rental concept would be possible. This would mean that the shipping companies would only have to pay for the system in the case that they need an economical ship and crew protection. The quick change system must be available on the ship, incorporating adaptor plates at predetermined positions for mounting ASES. In addition a power supply must be available at each ASES position and in the case of using the ships own hydraulic system (instead of the ASES hydraulic) a hydraulic connection must be also available.
Conclusion
The Anti Ship Entering System ASES appears unconventional, although extremely effective. Even though the system is not yet in use, initial tests have already demonstrated the capability. Therefore the ASES could soon be protecting the life of seamen, assuring the safety of ships and helping to make the worldwide sea transport industry independent of third party protection. Government protection initiatives as well as measures from ship owners and shipping companies using private contractors can be significantly reduced or even partly done away by using ASES.
The hope remains, that companies or ship owners develop interest to carry out further practical tests and subsequent operational use.
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